Do you alternate CCWs?

[woolfam]

I'm of the mindset that I'm probably better off always carrying the same CCW, as opposed to alternating between two or more. I figure not having to stop and think if the one I'm carrying does / doesn't have a manual safety, is / isn't DAO, etc. would be an asset if the situation arose where I need to use it.

Do you tend to carry the same weapon every time you carry, or do you alternate between different weapons?

 

[sevin8nin]

I said that I do alternate, but I alternate between different sizes of 1911s, so technically the handling of the weapon is the same, therefore I don't have to train for different weapons.

 

[misANTHrope]

I only have one pistol right now, so it's kind o a moot point for me. I do intend to pick up a pocket pistol in the near future, but anything I get will essentially mimic the manual of arms for my XD; that is, all I'd have to do would be to pull the trigger.

 

[glk23]

I alternate between a Glock 23, Kahr K9 and KT p32 which makes it pretty easy. No wondering about safties or anything else. All three are carried with one in the camber and just need to be drawn and shot.

 

[JesseL]

Most of the time I carry an SR9. While Ruger had it for the recall I carried my Ballester-Molina. When I'm in the woods I usually carry my Blackhawk. On rare occasions when the mood strike me I carry my S&W .38 Special M&P.

I try to practice enough with all of them that when I feel the different grips, muscle memory seems to recognize the gun and do the right thing.

 

[Valkman]

Nope, Kimber Compact CDP all the time. I actually meant to start carrying a XD45 but never have because the Kimber is so thin and light.

 

[yeti]

Since my Dad past away I have carried his old .45, but I find it's sentimental value has gotten to the point I am no longer comfortable using it as a carry gun. So the last few months I've been alternating it with a SIG 226. It has been working out ok, but I do prefer old slab side, and it seemed like a good excuse to order a new 1911, with less sentimental value, so that is what I did. But I think the SIG will still find a place as a sometimes carry gun. And I do have a 649 and a tiny lil ole Berreta .25 that fill other niches. The .45, for me, fills the majority of my needs, but even the .25 fits in for those times when a sharpened stick is just a bit to little.

 

[ronwill]

My primary is a Kimber Ultra Carry, but I sometimes carry a S&W Sigma SW9F.

 

[roo_ster]

Alternate depending on circumstances.

Primary is GM sized SW1911 in .45ACP carried IWB. Secondary is a Taurus 651SH Ti in .357mag.

 

[guntotinguy]

I change up from a Slimhawg 3' .45 to an XD .45 both tactical and a compact,also an XD sub-compact .40...have a 9mm BUG and a 380 BUG.

 

[Treo]

95% of the time I carry a CZ75B The other 5% I carry a 2075 RAMI,which is essentialy the sub-compact version of the same gun.

I've had to defensively display a hand gun 2 times both times the adrenelin dump was overwhelming I went tunnel vision & in the second instance completely forgot that I was carrying condition 3. If you've never been there don't underestimate the power of adrenelin to screw up your mind. keep it as simple as possible.

 

[V1K1NG0]

All my ccw have no safeties so all I have to remember is to pull the trigger (revolver and semi).

I practice presenting both everyday.

 

[P97]

I only carry one. It is the one that I am best with.

 

[Marlin_444]

Yup... .357, .38, .44 Mag...

 

[SsevenN]

I go between DA(CZ Rami 2075) and DAO(Kahr CW9), but always carry in the same manner, so it's always just point and shoot....

 

[Sistema1927]

I normally carry a Kahr PM9, but whenever I go somewhere and I am traveling by air I pack a S&W 642. It is easier to show "clear" at the check-in counter, and a couple of speed strips are easier to throw in the pistol lock-box than magazines.

Both pistols get carried in pocket holsters.

 

[markallen]

I normally carry my Ruger sp101 .357 in my pocket at work. In the evenings, or when I go out I prefer my Ruger P345 IWB.
Sometimes like today when I'm feeling Really Crazy, I carry my Detonics Combat Master.

 

[meef]

HK P7 - my "warm to hot weather" gun.

SIG P220 Carry - my "cool to cold" weather gun.

KelTec P32 - my "carry anywhere/anytime when nothing else is appropriate" gun.

I am proficient enough with each of them I don't worry myself about subscribing to the "carry only one" rationale.

To each his/her/its own.

 

[possum]

depending on METT-TC dictatesweather i carry my xd sc or my kahr k-40.

 

[rainman500_0]

Depends on what i am wearing its either a S&W 649 or S&W 1076, no safety just point and fire.

 

[shadowalker]

Probably more important is to carry the firearm in the same location. If you carry on the hip 90% of the time and train on the hip when you need your gun you are going to go for the hip even if your gun is in your pocket.

I carry a Sig P229 90% of the time, when I feel like mixing it up I carry a Springfield XD 45 ACP.

I've shot them enough to not have to think about the controls, I don't carry handguns with manual safeties so they close enough I don't need to adapt.

 

[brighamr]

I think it's good to carry what you are most familiar with. For myself, I practice weekly, if not daily, with all of my pistols. BUT the two I am most familiar with are my XD9 and 1911. I carry either of these, pending what I'll be wearing for the day.

 

[Byron Quick]

I've carried various 1911's for years (I have seven in two chamberings) but I'm carrying an XD-45 at present. Haven't decided whether it will replace the 1911's yet. As BUG, I carry a KelTec P3AT.

 

[YammyMonkey]

As a warning, this is going to go beyond the limits of the inital question, but I think it's all still in bounds & relavant to the question.

In my opinion you're best served by having your carry guns be of the same platform. For instance, if you're carrying a Glock then stick to that type, but if you need to you can have a 17 for winter clothing, a 19 for "most of the time" & a 26 if you need something tiny and/or as a BUG.

I'm not just a big fan of using the same platform, but keeping everything on or for that platform the same or as similar as possible as well. Same sights, same holster, same mag carriers, etc...

The less you have to think about the better off you'll be. As an example if I'm doing a Type 3 malfxn clearance I found that I'm nearly a full second faster if I stand in one place vs. moving. Now obviously moving while my gun is down is more advantageous than getting back into the fight a second faster but the point is that my brain is having to process movement & the clearance drill which slows things down & I've been walking for 30 or so years & have thousands of Type-3 practice drills under my belt.

Same thing goes for your brain having to decide which gun you're using. You may not feel slower but I'll bet if you commit to using one platform & put yourself on a shot timer you'll see an improvement in your speed & if you're honest with yourself you'll see an improvement in your shooting as well.

I'm not all that familiar with the whole "The average defensive shooting is within X yards, involves Y shots & is over in Z seconds" stats, but If the entire scenario takes 10 seconds start to finish & you're well trained so you're only 1/2 a second slower than you could be you're still wasting 5% of the time you have. If you consider that, as the defender, you are starting at a disadvantage then the 5% you've comped to your attacker could be enough to keep you from catching up to your OODA loop.

As an example, which person would you rather be:

A- I'm being attacked, MOVE! Now am I carrying my 1911 with the Heinie Straight-8 sights, in my Sparks VM-II behind my hip or is it my S&W airweight with the stock sights in the front pocket, or my Kahr with the Trijicon front & stock rear in the Comp-Tac AIWB rig or my G-26 with the Big Dots in the ankle holster or...

B- I'm being attacked, MOVE! Grab the gun that's where it always is & get to doing God's work.

If you're person A, even though you know you chose the 1911 & none of the other options that day your brain will still have to burn time thinking about what to do.

I will admit that person B is a bit ideal, but the point is to have as much similarity as possible. For instance, if you carry a G-19 in a SmartCarry for your Sunday go to meetin' & workout wear & the same gun in an AIWB holster for your everyday clothing there will be less thinking required because your gun will be in a very similar orientation it's just a matter of do I grab above the belt or below.

SoutNarc has a great article on Shivworks.com titled "A Systems Approach to Building a Profile" that covers a lot of this on integrating the h2h/knife/gun platforms.

Carrying a gun is not an easy task & the responsibility you take on demands that you're proficient so train up, practice & be ready to use it while you hope you never have to.

 

[MCgunner]

I also alternate between DA/DAO auto and revolvers. I have a whole collection, can't live iwth one gun. And, I can walk and chew gum at the same time. Heck, swapping between guns ain't as bad as getting off a 2 stroke road racer that shifts reverse (GP shift) and getting on a motard single cylinder four stroke that shifts standard. I've done that and won races on both bikes without blowing cranks by upshifting wrong. I've even had flat trackers that shifted AND braked with the right foot. Some folks cannot do that, either. I don't do Safe Action or single action, though. I keep it to DA or DAO autos. First shot is the same as my revolvers.